I didn't even try to sleep, I sat in my room all night just thinking about what the Box could bring me. Salvation, it would be a godsend if they took mercy on me and gave me a name. My name. But they might not, they could decide against it, but why would they? It is nothing to them, right? Why would my name need to be secret? It makes no sense... so they should be sending it up in the Box. And maybe the new Greenie will be a girl. So much could happen today. I hopped out of my hammock at the first crack of dawn. Time to get started, I thought as I strolled to the kitchen. No need to rush, take it slow. This could be nothing... or it could be everything.
Siggy sent me on my morning chores, collect water, ingredients and everything. Each time I left the kitchen, my eyes were drawn to the center of the Glade where it sat, almost like it was taunting me with a secret. My secret. I knew I wouldn't miss it, Siggy always went running when he heard the Box come up, all of the Glade does, especially when it's the start of a new month. Eveyone wants to oogle the new Greenie, even more so after I arrived, they think a new girl will show up.
Breakfast was served and still there was nothing. My anxiety was growing the longer I was forced to wait. What happens if they don't send up anything because of what I did? What will the Glade do? We need our supplies.. Oh god. That was so stupid. Waiting could be a good thing, I contradicted myself. They could be deciding right? If they should give me a name... or not give me a name. I was so unmotivated to work, that peeling the onions was taking me more time than Siggy baking the bread.
"Girl, what are you doing," he stomped into the kitchen with the freshly baked bread. "You cannot be over there, taking that much time to-..." his voice halted at the sound of a buzzer.
The buzzer! THE BOX!
I dropped my onion and Siggy practically threw the bread onto the counter before bolting out the door. We both ran to he Box, but I passed him easily, being one of the first to arrive.
"HELP! PLEASE, SOMEBODY!" a loud cry radiated from below.
There's someone in there... I thought and afterward felt stupid. Of course someone's in there... oh god. I hope they still sent everything else... And my name. My name is in there, it has to be. This is my last chance!
The crowd grew quickly as the boys uncovered the cage and people started to jostle so they could see inside. I elbowed the boy next to me before looking below and seeing what answers the cage held. Inside was a person, a boy, on his back covering his face with his hands. He was small, at least smaller than me, and he was crying.
"Please! Don't hurt me," he screamed when Gally opened the cage and jumped down to him.
"You're going be okay, Greenie," he pulled him up and out of the cage, setting him on the ground. The circle of people around the box all stepped backwards, making a small clearing for the new Greenie.
"Please!," he looked to us in terror, his large blue eyes were outline with tears.
"Greenie, it's okay. Settle down," Gally sat him up and slapped him on the back.
The boy flinched at his touch and pulled away from him, he looked around frantically, squinting at the sky. His eyes met mine for a brief second and my heart broke. What a poor boy. He has no idea what's going on and he's scared for his life. I remember that. The other Gladers all started to talk at once, making comments on his size and some even laughed at the fact that he was crying.
"Who are you," he choked on his words. "Where am I?!"
"You're in the Glade, Greenbean," Gally stood and laughed like it was this kids fault he didn't know where he was.
"Hey," I crouched down, the boy turned to me again, we were now at eye level. His eyes were so big and he looked so small and fragile, I knew what it felt like, even if everyone else had forgotten what it was like to come here. "It's okay. It's okay," I spoke in calm boy was visibly shaking, my words did nothing to help him and he drew his legs closer to himself.
"What do you want?!," he cried.
"Nothing. I don't want anything, but you should calm down...," I tried to keep an level voice but the kids started to shake his head and rock back and forth.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!," he screamed, hiding his bead between his knees.
"All right," Gally clapped his hands, officially done with the situation. "Aidan, Jackson, take him to the Slammer. Let him cool off," he said before walking back towards the Homestead. The other Gladers started to drift away when Jackson and Aidan came and picked the boy up. He struggled, kicking and screaming to get free from them.
"LET ME GO!," he flailed in the grip.
"Come on, is that necessary?," I take a step towards the scene.
"Don't worry, he'll come down soon enough," Aidan said.
"Let's go, Greenie!," Siggy called as he was halfway back to the kitchen.
Jackson looked to me, his eyes were clouded with pitty," We're not gonna hurt him," he said before they made there way to the Slammer.
How can they do this? How can they just be so... so stupid. So unemotional. It's not his fault, the anger was swelling inside me.
"We got some more lighter fluid," a voice said happily from the box.
The box! My name!
I went to the edge and saw Adam was inside looking through our new shipment. Lighter fluid, who cares!? My eyes scan the cage, first checking for my leaf, but I didn't see it. It's gone! They took it!
"Oh boy! And we got some new knives! Winston is gonna love this!," he jumped from the cage and saw me. "Oh... ugh, there's nothing in there for you this time," he set down the box and went back in.
"Don't be so sure," I feel a grin on my lips.
Adam looked over his shoulder at me, he was skeptical of what I was doing but kept working. He brought up everything, new medical supplies, knives, a couple chickens and a goat, along with some other items.
Carrying the last of it, he jumped out," That's all," he said.
What? That can't be everything? Why would they take my leaf and not answer? Why would they do that! It doesn't make sense? I jumped into the box looking and feeling the entire grate. Where is it? It has to be somewhere?
"What are you doing, Greenie?," Adam asked, his tone showed his was annoyed. "I've got it all up here."
Not all of it, it can't be all of it!
"Besides, didn't they tell you the box won't go down without someone inside," he snickered.
Where is it? I saw everything, there was nothing... It didn't come. They aren't going to tell me. I'm not going to get my name.
I feel a burning sensation bubble up in my throat and know that tears are close. I jump out of the box and run past Adam, How could I be so stupid to think they would just tell me?! Why did I ever think that would work!? I wipe the tears out of my eyes before they spill out and I stop running, Just calm down... Forget it. Don't let Siggy see you like this. I take a deep breath and walk back to the kitchen. You're just back to square one, so it's not like you lost anything, I tried to cheer myself up and I went back to peeling onions but it didn't help.
As soon as Joe walked through the threshold I walked out, not saying a word and heading to my room. Okay, so you didn't get a name. You knew it was a possibility it wouldn't happen... it's okay, I convinced myself it was alright. Now you just have to keep on with the plan and pick your own name. Lea or Delia. I hate them both. Ciara? Ugh, no. Alina... NO! Elyce? UGHHHHHHHH!
I throw myself onto my hammock, You did this to yourself, I thought as the tears rolled out. You had hope... you are such an idiot.
